Prediction: Tottenham vs Liverpool

Verdict: Harry Kane to Score Anytime

Best Odds: 4/6

Bookmakers: Bet 365

Tottenham welcome Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool to Wembley on Sunday for a game that will have a big impact upon the race for the top four spots in the Premier League. Both teams head into this game off the back of positive results in the Champions League and Liverpool will be keen to find the back of the net after a frustrating 0-0 draw against Manchester United last weekend. Spurs return from Spain having recorded an impressive draw in the Bernabeu and will look to neutralise Liverpool’s attackers as effectively as they did Real Madrid’s.

Tottenham

Spurs’ draw with Spanish super club Real Madrid in midweek proved that the North London club can go toe-to-toe with Europe’s elite. However in the Premier League the only top six club that Tottenham have faced so far is their London rivals Chelsea and the Blues ran out as 1-2 winners at Wembley. Mauricio Pochettino’s side have struggled at home this season, recording draws against Swansea and Burnley on top of their defeat to Chelsea.

However the last two games at their temporary home have resulted in wins and Tottenham’s form has really picked up in the last few weeks, so much so that they currently sit third in the Premier League table behind the Manchester clubs. A lot of the headlines regarding Spurs surround world class goal scorer Harry Kane, who will certainly trouble what it is relatively fragile Liverpool defence in this game, but the North London club’s defence is also highly impressive. Manchester United managed to silence Liverpool’s talented forwards last weekend and it wouldn’t be surprising to see the same thing happen on Sunday.

Team News

Illness kept Welsh left back Ben Davies out of last weekend’s game against Bournemouth and Spurs’ midweek draw away at Real Madrid but the defender should return on Sunday. Mousa Dembele could also feature after recovering from his ankle injury. Danny Rose played the last fifteen minutes in the Bernabeu and could start his first game for ten months this weekend.

Erik Lamela and Victor Wanyama are both still out with long-term injuries.

Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp’s side have had an inconsistent start to this Premier League season, recording three wins, four draws and one loss thus far. Aside from the Reds’ 4-0 win over Arsenal back in August it is the number of draws that stands out from Liverpool’s campaign. For all their offensive weapons the Merseyside club have struggled to grind out wins and draws against the likes of Watford, Burnley and Newcastle which has put them nine points behind league leaders Manchester City. Even at this relatively early stage of the season it now looks as if the top four is the aim for Liverpool.

There have been positives at Anfield however and new signing Mohamed Salah is certainly one of those. The Egyptian winger has scored four times in the league and netted a further three in the Champions League in a blistering start to his Liverpool career. Klopp’s side currently top their group in the European competition and dismantled Maribor on Tuesday night, scoring seven in Slovenia. When this Liverpool side are on form there are few teams in football that can withstand their devastating attacking play, they just need to iron out the inconsistencies.

Team News

Sadio Mané and Adam Lallana are sidelined with hamstring and thigh injuries respectively, somewhat blunting Liverpool’s attacking threat. Aside from this Liverpool’s squad is fit and healthy and Jurgen Klopp will look to capitalise on Tottenham’s Wembley struggles.

Key Factors to Consider

• Tottenham have not beaten Liverpool since November 2012.
• Liverpool have won just one of their four away games in the Premier League this season.
• Tottenham have conceded just five times in eight Premier League games this season.
• Harry Kane has scored 11 goals in 11 appearances across all competitions this season.
• Liverpool have kept just four clean sheets in 14 games across all competitions this season.

Conclusion

Spurs have struggled to grind out wins at Wembley this season and despite Liverpool’s impressive record against top six clubs the Reds have found the going tough on the road so far. Something has to give in this game and it should come down to whether Liverpool’s electric strike force can break down what is a disciplined Tottenham defence or whether the visitors’ shaky defence can deal with world class striker Harry Kane. The latter provides the safer bet as the Reds have found clean sheets hard to come by and Harry Kane is in scintillating form.

Verdict: Harry Kane to Score Anytime

Best Odds: 4/6

Bookmakers: Bet 365